Page:The Presidents of the United States, 1789-1914, v. IV.djvu/82

56 LIVES OF THE PRESIDENTS ment in relation to the suppression of filibustering remained unchanged. Gen. Stewart L. Woodf ord, the new minister to Spain, was instructed to deliver to the Spanish government a message in which the United States expressed its desire that an end should be put to the disastrous conflict in Cuba, and tendered its good offices toward the accom plishment of such a result. To this message the Spanish government returned a conciliatory reply, to the effect that it had ordered administrative re forms to be carried out on the island, and expected soon to put an end to the unfortunate w r ar, at the same time begging the United States to renew its efforts for the suppression of filibustering. As was generally expected, the opening of the administration was marked by a fresh agitation of the question of Hawaiian annexation. A new treaty of annexation was negotiated and sent by the president to the senate, but action upon it was postponed. Meanwhile the Japanese government lodged a remonstrance against any such action on the part of the United States as might be deemed to prejudice the permanent rights alleged in favor of the Japanese under the terms of the treaty be tween Japan and the republic of Hawaii or ad versely affect the settlement of the diplomatic dis pute then pending in regard to the charged viola tion by Hawaii of the provisions of that treaty. The Japanese minister having disclaimed any ul-